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Will's friends, including Halt, looked at the young Ranger expectantly.

Will didn't know what to say. "My…birthday?" he said at last.

Halt stepped forward.

"Yes, your birthday." he said, looking very annoyed. Halt didn't understand why Will was making a big fuss about it. After all, it was his birthday. There was not much more to say. Birthday. Today. That was all. It wasn't a hard concept.

Halt waved his hand in front of Will's stunned face. "Hello? Earth to Will." Halt said.

Will didn't react to Halt's gesture. The young Ranger's eyes had a misty look and his body seemed frozen to the spot.

What Will didn't understand was how Halt had known his birthday was today. Will hadn't known his birthday all through his fifteen years of life. How did Halt know? Will decided to discuss this with Halt later.

Will put on a big grin. "Right—let's get this party started, shall we?" he said, almost too cheerfully to be normal.

His friends and Halt looked at him oddly. Finally, Halt cleared his throat loudly.

"Yes, let's get to the party. Jenny…would you mind getting the food and coffee? George, could you get the decorations?" Halt said.

George and Jenny nodded. Then they walked out of the kitchen.

Halt gestured for Alyss, Horace, and Will to follow him to the table.

The three friends sat down, facing Halt. Will eagerly started the conversation.

"Halt?" Will asked the grim-faced Ranger.

"Mmm?" was the reply.

"How did you—" Will started, but Halt finished the question.

"—know it was your birthday? Long story." Halt finished.

Will looked keenly at Halt.

"Tell me the story," Will said. He was ready to know the details.

Halt sighed. "Another day, Will." the Ranger sighed. "Ah…here comes the coffee. Thank you, Jenny."

Halt sipped the cup of coffee slowly. He could tell that Will was disappointed.

Halt watched George as he put up a banner that said, "Happy Birthday, Will!" Then Halt sneaked a look at Will. The apprentice was smiling admirably at the banner.

Then Alyss got up from the table. "I'll help George with the other decorations." she said to Halt. Halt nodded in agreement.

Halt, Horace, and Will watched Alyss as she helped George stick the banner on the wall with a sticky substance.

Will looked closer. It was syrup that they were using. Halt noticed Will.

"Pretty clever, wouldn't you say? Horace suggested it. It actually works pretty well." he said.

Will nodded.

Halt looked at Will's untouched plate of cookies. "If you're not going to eat those cookies, I will." Halt said.

Will grinned. "Nope, I'll eat them, thank you very much." He stuffed the cookies in his mouth, crumbs falling onto the table.

Halt smiled. He took a cookie for himself and started munching thoughtfully.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

Halt, already knowing who was behind the door, rushed to open it. Sure enough, it was Gilan, Baron Arald, Crowley, Lady Pauline, and Sir Rodney.

Halt smiled. "Good morning, everyone…where's Nigel?" he asked Crowley.

Crowley replied, "He couldn't come. Got some sort of meeting or something like that. Anyway, we've got the…" he started, but Crowley spotted Will standing nearby. "We've got the you-know-what." Crowley finished.

Halt nodded. "There are cookies and coffee in the kitchen; you can help yourself; and Alyss and the others are also in there." Halt explained.

The craftmasters and the Baron nodded. Then they walked to the kitchen, talking and laughing cheerfully together.

Now that you've read the chapter, you know what to do...